Retractable writing instrument



June 4, 1963 c. K. LovEJoY RETRACTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed March 16, 1955 M 6 2 0 6 6 0 m m 4 0 .a 5 .a 58 4 1 N 0 .v 1 W K. A mn...5-115.151....H 1r $3 l BY am ATTORNEYJ United States Patent() 3,092,986 RETRACTABLE WRlTING INSTRUMENT Charles K. Lovejoy, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Scripte, Inc., a corporation of Georgia Filed Mar. 16, 1955, Ser. No. 494,596 4 Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-42.03)

This invention relates generally to retractable Writing instruments of the type having a writing element housed within a barrel for sliding movement between retracted and projected positions so that the writing element may be alternatively withdrawn within the barrel when not in use or projected therefrom to a writing position when desired.

Such writing instruments commonly have the writing element biased rearwardly with respect to the barrel for retraction and incorporate some means for releasably latching the writing element forwardly at its projected position. The present invention provides a particularly effective and advantageous arrangement for releasing the writing element latching means lfor retraction easily and conveniently in handling a writing instrument of this sort.

The invention is described in detail .below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a vertical section of a retractable writing instrument embodying the present invention, and showing the writing element releasably latched forwardly in projected position;

FIG. 2 is a similar vertical section showing the Writing element unlatched and retracted;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation taken from the right in IFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional detail taken substantially on the line 4 4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a further transverse sectional detail taken substantially on the line 5 5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a further transverse sectional detail taken substantially on the line 6-6 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section corresponding to FIG. 3.

The Writing instrument shown in the drawings to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention comprises a composite barrel, as indicated 'generally by the reference numeral 10, having a forward barrel portion 12 and a rear barrel portion 14. The `forward barrel portion 12 is arranged to have a writing element l16 slidahly disposed therein for projection forwardly to a writing position, through a tapered writing tip 18, and has an inwardly stepped annular shoulder 20 therein adjacent the tip portion `18 at which a compression spring 22 is seated to bear rearwardly against a shoulder 24 formed exteriorly on the writing element 16 and thereby bias the writing element 16 rearwardly for retraction within the barrel 10.

The writing element 16 illustrated in the drawing is a ball point and reservoir unit of the type described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 476,479, filed December 20, 1954, to which reference is made for par- -ticular details. lt should also be noted that any other type of writing element might be retractably arranged according to the present invention in a similar manner.

The forward barrel portion '12 is reduced in diameter and threaded adjacent its rear end, as indicated at 26, for assembly with the rear barrel portion 14, which is fitted for this purpose with an exterior alignment sleeve 28 in which an internally threaded assembly cap 30 is arranged. The assembly cap 30 has `a clearance aperture 32 formed in its rear face to allow rearward extension therethrough of the writing element 16 for disposition at it-s rear end within a plunger member 34 that is slidably arranged within the rear barrel portion 14 beyond the assembly cap 30.

ICC

This plunger member 34 has the same general arrangement as is disclosed and claimed in copending application Serial No. 357,183, filed -May 25, 1953, now Patent No. 2,748,748, issued June 5, 1956, being formed to extend rearwardly from the barrel portion 14 at retracted position, and to be depressed forwardly therein for projecting the writing element 16 to writing position, with a rearwardly extending, spring latching lever 36 carried thereon and biased laterally outward for releasably latching the Writing element y16 at writing position upon projection. The plunger member `34 is further formed with a slideway or groove at 38 fitting a key or spline portion 40 at the inner face of the barrel portion 14, so as to prevent turning of the plunger member 34 and thereby maintain the latching lever 36 aligned properly for latching, and with a rearwardly facing abutment ledge 42 arranged to seat against the forward end of an inwardly stepped portion 44 of ythe barrel spline 40 and thereby define the retracted position of the writing element 16.

In order to provide for engaging and releasing the latching lever 36 according to the present invention, a pocket clip 46 is mounted on the rear barrel portion 14, by means of assembly ears 48 clinched through assembly 4slots (not shown), with a latch release lever 50 housed therein exteriorly of the barrel portion 14. The pocket clip 46 is mounted in alignment with the latching lever 36 and forwardly of a slot 52 in the barrel portion )14 that extends slightly rearward of the rear end of the latching lever 36 at projected position. From its mounting on the barrel portion 14, the pocket clip 46 reaches rearwardly over the barrel slot 52 with a clearance slot 54 formed in its outer face, and with its rear end extending laterally inward adjacent the rear edge of slot 54 so as to form a latching lip 56 thereat for engagement at projected position by the latching lever 36.

The latch release lever 50 is in turn formed with an operating knob portion 5S extending laterally outward through the pocket clip clearance slot 54 and with a rear end abutment lug portion 60 extending laterally inward through the barrel slot 5,2, and has its forward end fulcrurned against the outer face ofthe barrel portion 14- for lateral pivoting Within the pocket clip `46 in an extent sufficient to permit engagement of the latching lever 36 heneath the latching lip 56, while providing for dislodgement of the latching lever 36 therefrom by lateral pressure applied at the operating knob portion 58 of release lever 50.

By this arrangement, the release lever 50 is disposed to afford a leverage at the operating knob portion 58 through which easy release of the latching lever 36 may be effected; it is possible to arrange the operating knob portion 58 with an extended surface area for convenient access and manipulation; and the pocket clip 46 is employed to contain and cover the entire latch release mechanism, except for the operating knob portion 58, and thereby substantially simplify and improve the assembly of this mechanism in the writing instrument, while at the same time leaving the pocket clip 46 conventionally disposed for use as such.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a writing instrument of the type having a writing element housed within a barrel for sliding movement between rearwardly retracted and forwardly projected positions and a plunger with a rearwardly extending, spring latching lever carried thereon `for sliding movement with said `writing element within said barrel and with said spring latching lever biased laterally outward for releasa-bly latching 'said writing element at said projected position by engagement with abutment means carried by said barrel, a pocket clip for said writing instrument having an end portion thereof lxedly mounted on said barrel, and a latch release lever housed by said pocket clip exteriorly of said barrel, said barrel having a slot therein extending slightly rearward of the rear end of said latching lever at said projected position, said pocket clip being mounted on said barrel forwardly of said slot and reaching rearwardly thereover with a clearance slot in its outer face and with its rear end extending laterally' inward adjacent the rear edge of said barrel slot so as to form said abutment means thereat for engagement by said latching lever at said projected position, and said latch release lever being a rigid operating member having an operating knob portion extending laterally outward through said clearance slot and a rear end abutment lug portion extending laterally inward through said barrel opening and a rocking arm portion fulcrumed at its forward end against said barrel for lateral pivoting of said latch release lever with respect to said barrel and said pocket clip in an extent permitting engagement of said latching lever at said `abutment means while providing for dislodgement thereof by lateral pressure applied at said operating knob portion.

2. A retractable Writing instrument comprising a barrel, a Writing element housed lwithn said barrel for projection forwardly therefrom and biased rearwardly for retraction therein, a plunger disposed over the rear end of said writing element within said barrel and extending from the rear barrel end, said plunger being restrained by said barrel at `a retracted position against the bias on said writing element and carrying a rearwardly extending, spring latching lever Within said barrel with an outward `lateral bias for latching said writing element forwardly upon projection, said barrel having a slot therein extending slightly rearward of the rear end of said latching lever upon said projection, a pocket clip for said writing instrument having ian end portion thereof xedly mounted on said barrel forwardly of said slot and reaching rearwardly thereover with a clearance slot in its outer face and iwith its rear end extending laterally inward `adjacent the rear edge of said barrel slot so as to form a latching lip thereat for engagement by said latching lever rear end upon said projection, and a latch release lever housed within said pocket clip exteriorly of said barrel, said release lever being a rigid operating member formed with an operating knob portion extending laterally outward through said pocket cli-p clearance slot and with a rear end abutment Ilug portion extending laterally inward through said barrel slot beneath said latching lip and having a rocking arm portion `fulcrumed at its forward end against said barrel for lateral pivoting of said latch release lever with respect Vto said barrel and said pocket clip in an extent sufficient to allow engagement of said latching lever at said latching lip and to provide for dislodging said latching lever therefrom by lateral pressure applied at said operating knob portion.

3. In a writing instrument of the type having a writing element housed iwithin a barrel for sliding movement between rearwardly retracted Iand forwardly projected positions and a plunger with a latching lever carried thereon for sliding movement Vwith said writing element within said barrel and with said latching lever biased laterally outward for releasably latching said writing element at said projected position by engagement with abutment means carried by said barrel, a pocket clip for said writing instrument mounted on said barrel, and latch release means housed by said pocket clip exteriorly of said barrel, said barrel having a slot therein extending at least as far rearwardly as the latching portion of said latching lever at said projected position, said pocket clip being mounted on said barrel and reaching rearwardly over said slot and having a clearance slot therethrough at least in partial alignment with said barrel slot, said latch release means having an operating knob portion extending laterally outward through said clearance slot and a rear end abutment lug portion extending laterally inward through said barrel opening, said latch release means being mounted `for lateral kmovement through said pocket clip opening in an extent permitting releasable latching of said latching lever at said projected position w-hile providing for dislodgement thereof by lateral pressure applied at said operating knob portion, the improvement of the latch release means being a rigid member having a rocking arm portion fulcrumed at one end thereof against said barrel for lateral pivoting of said latch release means with respect to said barrel and said clip.

4. The improvement as dened in claim 3 and further characterized in that said abutment means carried by said barrel is formed by the rear end of said clip that extends laterally inward adjacent the rear edge of said barrel slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,809,610 Clary et al Oct. l5, 1957 3,033,167 Spillrnan May 8, 196:2

FOREIGN PATENTS 641,595 Great Britain Aug. 6, 1950 979,112 France Dec. 6, 1950 

1. IN A WRITING INSTRUMENT OF THE TYPE HAVING A WRITING ELEMENT HOUSED WITHIN A BARREL FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN REARWARDLY RETRACTED AND FORWARDLY PROJECTED POSITIONS AND A PLUNGER WITH A REARWARDLY EXTENDING, SPRING LATCHING LEVER CARRIED THEREON FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT WITH SAID WRITING ELEMENT WITHIN SAID BARREL AND WITH SAID SPRING LATCHING LEVER BIASED LATERALLY OUTWARD FOR RELEASABLY LATCHING SAID WRITING ELEMENT AT SAID PROJECTED POSITION BY ENGAGEMENT WITH ABUTMENT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BARREL, A POCKET CLIP FOR SAID WRITING INSTRUMENT HAVING AN END PORTION THEREOF FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID BARREL, AND A LATCH RELEASE LEVER HOUSED BY SAID POCKET CLIP EXTERIORLY OF SAID BARREL, SAID BARREL HAVING A SLOT THEREIN EXTENDING SLIGHTLY REARWARD OF THE REAR END OF SAID LATCHING LEVER AT SAID PROJECTED POSITION, SAID POCKET CLIP BEING MOUNTED ON SAID BARREL FORWARDLY OF SAID SLOT AND REACHING REARWARDLY THEREOVER WITH A CLEARANCE SLOT IN ITS OUTER FACE AND WITH ITS REAR END EXTENDING LATERALLY INWARD ADJACENT THE REAR EDGE OF SAID BARREL SLOT SO AS TO FORM SAID ABUTMENT MEANS THEREAT FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID LATCHING LEVER AT SAID PROJECTED POSITION, AND SAID LATCH RELEASE LEVER BEING A RIGID OPERATING MEMBER HAVING AN OPERATING KNOB PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARD THROUGH SAID CLEARANCE SLOT AND A REAR END ABUTMENT LUG PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY INWARD THROUGH SAID BARREL OPENING AND A ROCKING ARM PORTION FULCRUMED AT ITS FORWARD END AGAINST SAID BARREL FOR LATERAL PIVOTING OF SAID LATCH RELEASE LEVER WITH RESPECT TO SAID BARREL AND SAID POCKET CLIP IN AN EXTENT PERMITTING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID LATCHING LEVER AT SAID ABUTMENT MEANS WHILE PROVIDING FOR DISLODGEMENT THEREOF BY LATERAL PRESSURE APPLIED AT SAID OPERATING KNOB PORTION.
 3. IN A WRITING INSTRUMENT OF THE TYPE HAVING A WRITING ELEMENT HOUSED WITHIN A BARREL FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN REARWARDLY RETRACTED AND FORWARDLY PROJECTED POSITIONS AND A PLUNGER WITH A LATCHING LEVER CARRIED THEREON FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT WITH SAID WRITING ELEMENT WITHIN SAID BARREL AND WITH SAID LATCHING LEVER BIASED LATERALLY OUTWARD FOR RELEASABLY LATCHING SAID WRITING ELEMENT AT SAID PROJECTED POSITION BY ENGAGEMENT WITH ABUTMENT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BARREL, A POCKET CLIP FOR SAID WRITING INSTRUMENT MOUNTED ON SAID BARREL, AND LATCH RELEASE MEANS HOUSED BY SAID POCKET CLIP EXTERIORLY OF SAID BARREL, SAID BARREL HAVING A SLOT THEREIN EXTENDING AT LEAST AS FAR REARWARDLY AS THE LATCHING PORTION OF SAID LATCHING LEVER AT SAID PROJECTED POSITION, SAID POCKET CLIP BEING MOUNTED ON SAID BARREL AND REACHING REARWARDLY OVER SAID SLOT AND HAVING A CLEARANCE SLOT THERETHROUGH AT LEAST IN PARTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BARREL SLOT, SAID LATCH RELEASE MEANS HAVING AN OPERATING KNOB PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARD THROUGH SAID CLEARANCE SLOT AND A REAR END ABUTMENT LUG PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY INWARD THROUGH SAID BARREL OPENING, SAID LATCH RELEASE MEANS BEING MOUNTED FOR LATERAL MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID POCKET CLIP OPENING IN AN EXTENT PERMITTING RELEASABLE LATCHING OF SAID LATCHING LEVER AT SAID PROJECTED POSITION WHILE PROVIDING FOR DISLODGEMENT THEREOF BY LATERAL PRESSURE APPLIED AT SAID OPERATING KNOB PORTION, THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LATCH RELEASE MEANS BEING A RIGID MEMBER HAVING A ROCKING ARM PORTION FULCRUMED AT ONE END THEREOF AGAINST SAID BARREL FOR LATERAL PIVOTING OF SAID LATCH RELEASE MEANS WITH RESPECT TO SAID BARREL AND SAID CLIP. 